summer 2012 soundtrack.

two radically different songs are part of our summer 2012 soundtrack. both songs, however, have the power to make us dance (yes, i said us) regardless of the situation or setting. enjoy, friends!

learning.

my summer break, thankfully, allows for rest, recovery, and learning. i can take off my metaphorical teacher hat and do some learning all my own.

i spent time reading this morning, before my husband woke up, a book by mark batterson. this book, the circle maker: praying circles around your biggest dreams and greatest fears, has been and is the perfect way to start my summer. shane and i both believe that this summer is going to be one of great changes, and we are trusting that God is present in the dreams and fears we are working to tackle this summer and beyond.

i want to encourage you to read the book, and i want to share with you some things i've gleaned from the early chapters.

batterson encourages readers to "intercede until God intervenes." isn't that good? prayer, he says, has the power to change things, the power to save a generation, and even affect the course of history. 

intercede until God intervenes.

prayer has the "power to resurrect dead dreams and give them new life." i know there are dreams you've given up on. because you've pursued a dream and failed, even multiple times, does not mean that prayer can't revive that dream. resurrection, says batterson, is central to the christian faith. God is the father of resurrection. why couldn't he breathe new life into your once-forgotten dream?

do not settle for small dreams that don't require divine intervention. don't go after dreams that don't require prayer.

ephesians 3:20-21

"now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory..."

my apologies.

my apologies for our absence. the last month of school is typically torture, and this year was no different. shane and i have both been busy beyond belief (notice the alliteration -- just wrapped up an awesome poetry unit with my ninth graders, forgive me [again]).

somewhere within the last month, beth and dylan visited. our time with them was much needed and provided an awesome break from the chaos that is may.

we said goodbye to our friends for another year, but our fingers were crossed behind our backs in hopes that we can see them again before another full year passes.